Zgonina makes a name with Rams

Chicago-area product sticks 2nd time around

ST. LOUIS — Imagine the trouble Jeff Zgonina has encountered trying to make a name for himself.

His first seven years in the NFL, he never started a game, no doubt to the relief of announcers.

This season Zgonina won a starting job at defensive tackle with the St. Louis Rams, and he'll play Sunday for the NFC championship against Philadelphia.

"Incredible. Four cuts, six teams? I mean, it's a fairy tale right now," Zgonina said.

He only wishes the game were in Soldier Field. He went to Carmel High School in Mundelein and his mother, Ginger, lives in Barrington. His dad, Casimir, died 1 1/2 years ago. The family has Bears season tickets.

"That would be a nice, easy game for me," Zgonina said. "I could have saved money. They're all coming down. It's ridiculous."

At Purdue, Zgonina was Big Ten defensive player of the year, not that he became famous. Asked to recall the worst pronunciation of his name, Zgonina said: "They just wouldn't say it. I was at places when I was at Purdue and they'd say, `No. 40 on the tackle.' It's right in the media guide, all spelled out nicely--ska-KNEE-na."

Zgonina called himself "the real No. 40 at Purdue, not that tailback guy who took my jersey the day I left."

That would be former teammate Mike Alstott, but Zgonina said he's not bitter.

"Not at all," Zgonina said. "He's a Chicago guy."

On Sunday, Zgonina will be chasing another Chicago guy, Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb. In the season opener it was Zgonina who recovered McNabb's fumble on the first snap of the Rams' eventual 20-17 victory.

"He destroyed the Bears last week," Zgonina said.

Zgonina, 31, remembers watching the Bears in Soldier Field during the playoffs in 1985 and in the 1988 Fog Bowl.

"I was a big Steve McMichael fan," he said. "I'd watch him play and Dan Hampton, Wilber Marshall, all those guys. That defense was unbelievable."

He thinks McMichael, Hampton and William "Refrigerator" Perry have something to do with spawning the unusual number of NFL defensive tackles from Chicago, including San Francisco star Bryant Young, former Dallas No. 1 pick Russell Maryland and ex-Bear Chris Zorich.

"It shows you can play D-line and still get a name for yourself," Zgonina said.

"I just saw a [fast-food] commercial with Fridge and [Jim] McMahon. They were eating wings."

Drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the seventh round in 1993, Zgonina played in 21 games in two years before getting cut.

"Worst feeling in the world. `Time to go see Coach (Bill) Cowher,'" Zgonina said. "Just bought a house in Pittsburgh and you're going to Carolina. It's a bad deal."

After a year with the Panthers, it was a year with Atlanta, a year with the Rams and two games with Indianapolis in 1998 before he re-signed with the Rams in time for the 1999 Super Bowl run.

When the Rams announced they would revamp their defense this year, Zgonina knew they would take a defensive tackle with one of their three first-round picks. It was Miami's Damione Lewis.

"Then they have another first-round pick and take another defensive lineman (Ohio State's Ryan Pickett)," Zgonina said. "They say he's going to play end and I feel pretty good. Then he's a nose guard. Whoa."

But Zgonina persisted, Lewis got hurt, and Pickett is inexperienced.

"In this league, it's all about being in the right place at the right time," Zgonina said. "I got lucky."

At 6 feet 1 inch, 300 pounds, Zgonina is undersized compared with some tackles, including the Bears' pair of Ted Washington and Keith Traylor.

"Look at me," he said. "Short, square body, typical nose guard, can't rush the passer. I figured I had to outwork somebody."

Zgonina can't bulk up any more.

"Washington is 6-5," Zgonina said. "He can carry it well.

"Try putting that on me, I'd be out of the league. I'd be flipping burgers. Or eating burgers."